Pirates Give Up On Steve Kemp

May 09, 1986|By Gary Reinmuth.

One of baseball`s highest-paid players, outfielder Steve Kemp, was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday. He was hitting .188 in 13 games this season.

The Pirates also optioned left-hander Bob Patterson to their Hawaii farm club in the Pacific Coast League. The Pirates recalled right-handed pitcher Jose DeLeon and outfielder Trench Davis from Hawaii.

Kemp, 31, a nine-year veteran who has played for several teams including the White Sox, was acquired by the Pirates from the Yankees Dec. 20, 1984, as part of a five-player deal that sent infielder Dale Berra, pitcher Alfonso Pulido and outfielder Jay Buhner to New York. The Pirates also acquired infielder Tim Foli and cash in the deal.

-- Joe Pepitone has two wishes right now: (1) To stay out of jail and (2) get back into his old pinstripes. The former New York Yankee says he is anxious for his trial on drug possession charges to begin so he can clear his name. After that, said Pepitone, ``I`m going to make a beeline to Mr. Steinbrenner (Yankee owner George Steinbrenner). I`d like to get back into coaching.`` Acting Supreme Court Justice Luigi Marano has scheduled the trial of Pepitone, Robert Oates and Thomas Carbone for June 23 after denying their bid to supress evidence. Marano ruled police acted lawfully when they stopped a car the three were riding in on March 18, 1985. Marano said a search of the car, which turned up narcotics, drug paraphernalia and a loaded pistol, was legal. . . . Gene McHale resigned as president of the Yankees, effective May 16. McHale will start a sports marketing and consultant firm. . . . The Montreal Expos purchased pitcher Bert Roberge from their West Palm Beach affiliate in the Florida State League.

-- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga will investigate an allegation by former basketball player Eugene Deal that he received cash gifts from two local sports boosters last year. The possible violation of NCAA policy was reported to the Southern Conference and the NCAA, officials said.

-- Ohio State fired him, but Eldon Miller landed on his feet when he was hired as the coach at Northern Iowa. Now, Miller is down again, this time done in by a rugged game of badminton. He underwent surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon, which snapped Wednesday while he was knocking the shuttlecock around with Northern Iowa football coach Darrell Mudra. Miller will have his leg in a cast for several months, according to sports information director Nancy Justis.

AMA back on the attack

The American Medical Association renewed its call for a ban on professional boxing Thursday, citing evidence that severe eye injuries are far more common than the sport`s leaders contend.